According to New Republic article just out --- called of all things --- "What if the Des Moines Register Endorses Biden?"

As he's ending the article, the author, Noam Scheiber, updates it with the following news:

"Update: Just got word from a reasonably informed source--someone not in a position to know with certainty, but in a position to know what various Democratic campaign insiders expect--that it's going to be Edwards again. We'll find out Sunday...

1. Chris Matthews was talking about it to David Yepsen, who said he was out

Edited on Fri Dec-14-07 09:39 PM by gateley

of that loop, so he had no inside info. But Matthews was saying they usually print the Sunday newspaper on Thursday or Friday (is that right, anybody know?). If that's accurate, SOMEBODY knows -- and I wonder if it'll leak before it hits the streets.

if Yepsen's partisan attitude on Hardball tonight and recent columns trashing the student vote effort are any indication. It was funny the way he fairly sneered about the race for the President not being as easy "as a Senate race in Illinois." Biden might be a good dark horse pick.

"But speculation tilts heavily toward Mr. Obama, who opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. Some think the Register prefers to back candidates who aren't establishment favorites, a description that may apply more to Mr. Obama. After all, everyone likes to play kingmaker."

Fresh off her 5th place finish, Hillary Gaggle unanimously proclaims Iowa a state full of Hillary Haters and mysogynistic followers of Republican Talking Points. Hillary will say Iowa is not her neighboring state, so she always knew it would be hard, yada. Then off to her neighboring state of new hampshire for her to get thumped again.

The more we watched him, the more we read his speeches and studied his positions, the more we saw him comport himself in debate, the more we learned about his life story, the more our editorial board came to conclude he's a cut above the others.... Edwards grew up around the textile mills in the Southeast. He describes his family as close-knit and hard-working - the kind of family that had to sit around the kitchen table to figure out what to sacrifice to send their son to college. Edwards played high school football, worked some summers in the mills and studied textiles at North Carolina State University, figuring on returning to the mills as his family's first college graduate.

Instead, he went on to law school at the University of North Carolina, where he met his future bride. Both became lawyers. John specialized in trial law, winning some of the most spectacular verdicts in North Carolina history and earning a small fortune by the time he was in his 40s. The couple endured the loss of a 16-year-old son in a highway accident in 1996. They have three surviving children.

In his first try for public office, Edwards defeated an incumbent Republican in 1998 to win a seat in the U.S. Senate from North Carolina. He financed his own campaign, avoiding contributions from lobbyists. ... Roll back some or all of the Bush tax cuts and redirect the money into health care and education. Conduct a foreign policy that is more collaborative and less bellicose.... it is Edwards who most eloquently and believably expresses this point of view, with his trial-lawyer skill for distilling arguments into compelling language that moves a jury of ordinary people. He speaks of there being two Americas:

"One America does the work, while another America reaps the reward. One America pays the taxes, while another America gets the tax breaks. If we want America to be a growing, thriving democracy with the strongest middle class on Earth, we must choose a different path."

If Edwards wins the Democratic nomination, voters this fall would have a choice between two men who almost perfectly embody the rival political philosophies in America today. George W. Bush and John Edwards are attractive, likable, energetic. They have about the same level of prior experience in government - and they are polar opposites.

Bush is from a prominent family, attended Ivy League universities, made his fortune in business and fervently believes the philosophy of "a rising tide lifts all boats." His policies flow from the conviction that all Americans will gain if business is largely unfettered and if investors are better rewarded.

Edwards is from a working-class family, attended public universities, made his fortune representing ordinary people in the courtroom and fervently believes that America does best when doors of opportunity are open to anyone willing to work and get ahead. He says those opportunities are being choked off in an America today that rewards wealth, not work. Emblematic of his approach is his proposal to pay the first year's tuition to a state university or community college for any student willing to work.... What a clear and attractive choice an Edwards vs. Bush fall campaign would offer. Beginning in the Iowa caucuses next Monday, Democrats would do well to give that choice to Americans.

Joe Biden is the one candidate they can endorse with the most well-rounded credentials to support their choice and do what they always love doing, stirring the pot. I'd be surprised if Clinton or Obama got the endorsement.

Used to be a liberal masthead. No more. the place is full of neoliberals. To think I once subscribed. Been a Nation subscriber ever since. A Biden endorsement. Only enhances my suspicion, Biden is a hawk.

Please, Biden is the one candidate who has a viable plan that contrasts sharply with Bush's. An effective plan to get us out of Iraq is not the work of a hawk. All the other candidates are offering "plans" that are pretty much the same as Bush's except to yank out our troops, which shows a lack of maturity on military matters and will continue to dog the Democratic Party as the anti-military Party. And if taking care of our soldiers in the military makes Biden a hawk, then it's a charge he should wear proudly. It should also be mentioned that Sen. Biden has a son who will be headed to Iraq next year, so for him this goes beyond politics. It's personal and you can be sure he will use all his knowledge and experience to handle this difficult matter correctly, rather than make rash decisions for the greatest political advantage.

New Republic's Andrew Sullivan is a pain in the arse.Why does he not keep his nose involved in GOP matters , where it belongs. / So Biden assisted the Bush doctrine by supporting 'regime change.' I expect more from a Senate chair. Bob Graham at Senate Intelligence knew better so should have Biden. Want a workable plan to get us out of Iraq this is the best one I have read. $I am offering such a plan today. This plan responds to the concerns of a majority of Americans. On Tuesday, when Congress resumes its work, I will present this plan to leadership and members as the only viable alternative to the Bush Administration's policy of continued occupation and escalation. These are the elements of the Kucinich Plan 1. The US announces it will end the occupation, close military bases and withdraw. The insurgency has been fueled by the occupation and the prospect of a long-term presence as indicated by the building of permanent bases2. US announces that it will use existing funds to bring the troops and necessary equipment home. 3. Order a simultaneous return of all US contractors to the United States and turn over all contracting work to the Iraqi government.4. Convene a regional conference for the purpose of developing a security and stabilization force for Iraq5. Prepare an international security and peacekeeping force to move in, replacing US troops who then return home6. Develop and fund a process of national reconciliation.

(think it was by Eric Alterman) talking about how after the rightward drift of TNR for several years starting in the late '90's that they had some new higher-ups that were working on moving the magazine back closer to its roots. Here it is:

As an Iowan I would personally like to thank you for your depiction of an average Iowan. We prefer this imagine because it allows us to keep out the elitists and such that are a threat to democracy. I would ask you kindly what state you are from and who you support in this election? Armed with this knowledge we can have discussions about your state and candidate in this election. I assume you represent everyone from your area?? I will be happy to discuss this with my family, friends, and of course my neighbors at the caucus. I look forward to your gracious reply.

I am now off to meet Senator Biden and as I typed this I got a personal invite to meet former Senator Edwards on Monday.

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